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The Commencement Address I'll Never Get to Give

Graduations mean commencement addresses. Most of which are eminently forgettable, containing feel-good charges to go do great stuff and change the world. But in my experience, they're always given by men, who are some kind of celebrity.

I am neither.

But I have a few thoughts on practical life lessons that newly-minted graduates might use.

"Hey graduates, congratulations. You made it to the cap-and-gown stage. Not without a lot of help and prodding and prayers and frustration from your parents though, right? Thank them. There's not a single thing you are or do or have that they didn't have a part in. Thank them again.

"Speaking of thanking, one of the most important habits you can ever form is gratitude. Especially toward God. He is continually blessing you with everything from the ability to draw your next breath, to your ability to remember your name, to your ability to walk or drive and think and talk and get a job or more education. Thank Him for all those things. Regularly stop and ask yourself, 'What would I really miss tomorrow if I didn't give thanks for it today?'—and then thank the Lord for it. A grateful heart is not a complaining heart, or a critical heart, or an entitled heart. Believe me, it will make you a much better person to live with, or work with, or play with, or just be with.

"You've just finished many years of schooling, and you may have been indoctrinated with a bunch of hooey about how wonderful and special you are because of some well-meaning self-esteem curriculum. You may have thrown away dozens of ribbons or trophies you received just for showing up. Those days are over, because that was never real life. Self-esteem and self-confidence are only gained one way, the hard way: working hard to meet a challenge and not giving up until you succeed. You earn self-confidence by doing, not by reciting platitudes in a mirror.

"If you haven't read Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People, read it. It's a classic of how to understand people and how they like to be treated. The reason it's so true is that the book fleshes out the second great commandment, 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'

"For example, when you see a service person, like a waitstaff or toll booth attendant, call him or her by name. One's name is the sweetest sound on earth to each person, and service personnel are often treated as if they were invisible. Using someone's name says, 'You are not invisible to me, and I honor you for your service.' Prospective employees and spouses have been known to disqualify themselves because of the way they treated people with disrespect or contempt when out in public.

"Everyone has an invisible tattoo on their forehead that says 'Please encourage me.' Most people have an invisible speech bubble over their heads that says, 'Do I matter? Please show me I matter.' Every single person you will ever meet is infinitely valuable as the handcrafted masterpiece of the Creator God, and they deserve to be honored and respected simply because God made them and He loves them.

"Some final pithy words to the wise.

"Listen to your body. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and it will tell you what it needs.

"Learn to recognize the nudges of the Holy Spirit, and follow them.

"Pray for your future spouse. He or she is out there somewhere. Your prayers WILL make a difference.

"If you wonder if you should be doing something, you probably shouldn't. If the thought, 'Should I be doing this?' even enters your head, it's an alarm.

"Don't believe everything you think.

"When you're on a road trip, never pass up an opportunity to use the restroom. Consider taking some disinfectant and a roll of paper towels with you, and leave it cleaner than you found it.

"And finally, do one good thing every day that no one will see but God. It will build your character and make deposits in your heavenly bank account that you'll forget about, but He won't.

"The Lord bless you and keep you. Your real education is about to begin."